Eagles rebound with 16-6 win over Chaffee

NEW MADRID -- Coming off a rough SEMO Conference Tournament where they gave up a combined 26 runs in two games, the New Madrid County Central Eagles rebounded at home Tuesday afternoon with a solid win against Chaffee.

Down by one entering the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles put up 11 runs in the final two innings to win 16-6 by the mercy rule in the sixth.

"We just came out after that horrible tournament we had over the weekend and played well," NMCC's starting pitcher Mike Darter said. "First inning I came out and 'K'd' out the side, then the bats fell in with the defense, we put the pitches together and just did a dang good job today."

After the Eagles came in to the fifth with a 5-3 advantage, the Red Devils would take the lead for the first time in the game.

Chaffee would put up three runs on two hits with an Alex Davie double bringing the first two home.

The damage could have been worse as the Red Devils had the bases loaded with no outs, but NMCC got a sacrifice fly out of Andrew Dooley, followed by Gabe Smith catching a Dustin Johnson line drive to first and catching the runner at first off the bag for a double play to end the inning.

It would be all NMCC after that as the Eagles put up seven runs in the frame, including three off a Jimmy Ash home run to left that helped kick start the team's rally.

"It was back and forth (all game) and then finally Jimmy hit that home run and it was just like we got wind back in our sails and we were ready to play baseball," NMCC coach John Jones said.

With the Red Devils failing to put together a drive in the top of the six, the Eagles would put up four more to seal the win with a Tim Clayton single bringing in the final two runs of the night.

Compiling 13 hits on the game, NMCC had six hitters with two hits, including Josh Reed and Sam Barnett who each collected a double.

Replacing starter Mike Darter after he went four innings allowing five runs and striking out eight, Ash picks up the win.

Ash went two full innings giving up one run on one hit and striking out two.

Happy with the win, Ash said it was good to see the team reach early season expectations.

"We played better defensively today," he said. "Offensively we got the bats going. "Everything is starting to fall together just like we thought it should at the beginning of the season."

For the Red Devils, Dustin Johnson takes the loss. Coming in relief, he went two innings allowing nine runs on eight hits.

His team had seven hits on the afternoon with Alex Crowe and Andrew Terhune both contributing two.

Chaffee coach Brian Horrell made no excuses for his team's problems in the field.

"Obviously we struggled on the mound today and overall defensively we just didn't have a very good day," he said. "They put the ball in play and we weren't able to execute."

Now at 9-7 the Red Devils stay on the road for their next game playing the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders Thursday at 4 p.m.